TORONTO — MLS and TFC are now working with Celtic to secure the proper paperwork to allow Dwayne De Rosario to train with the Scottish giants.
However, both the league and the club stress that they were not made aware of the trial prior to De Rosario taking part in a training session yesterday.
MLSsoccer.com confirmed on Tuesday that the league spoke to Celtic about De Rosario for the first time Tuesday morning.
“We talked with Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell this morning and he indicated that Celtic had been told by both the player and his agent that they had permission,” a league source said.
Toronto FC interim General Manager Earl Cochrane remains adamant that no such permission was granted.
“I was contacted a little more than a month ago by Dwayne and his representative—asking if we would entertain a loan or training stint,” Cochrane said. “We said we would but would need assurances and final sign off on it—that an agreement would need to be in place that we were comfortable with.”
The signing of an official training agreement is standard throughout the world whenever a player under contract goes on trial with another club. Such agreements protect the player’s home club if the player is injured while on trial.
Cochrane says the De Rosario camp was aware that such an agreement was needed.
“They understood that completely,” he said. “I have not received anything official from Dwayne or his agent or Celtic. MLS will reach out to Celtic to clear up this situation and will do what is best for Toronto FC.”
That process has already begun. “When we are told that by a club like Celtic we are inclined to not move towards a legal action and instead work with them to secure the proper paperwork,” the league source said.
De Rosario will not be permitted to train with Celtic until an agreement is in place that satisfies both TFC and MLS.
De Rosario did not respond to a request to be interviewed for this story.
